Andy Robinson delivers one last blast at flops before stepping down as Scotland head coach

FOLLOWING one of the worst results in Scottish rugby history Robinson let rip - then resigned.

ANDY ROBINSON delivered a verbal mauling of his squad that ultimately became his farewell speech.

Scotland reached a new low in the abject defeat to Tonga and the Pittodrie dressing room hadn’t seen such biting criticism since Sir Alex Ferguson was in his Aberdeen pomp.

After going down to one of the worst results in Scottish rugby history Robinson didn’t miss his targets, which is more than can be said for his team 80 minutes previously.

However, he made it clear he was also culpable and now Robinson, a passionate and decent man, has walked away from one of the heftiest contracts in European rugby that was in line to pay him around £1million to the World Cup in 2015.

Three straight defeats in the autumn Tests left him a busted flush as optimism from the unbeaten summer tour of Australia and the South Seas gave way to the awful realisation Scotland were actually heading backwards under Robinson.

He won 15 games from 35 during three-and-a-half years in charge and suffered 12 defeats in 15 Six Nations matches – including this year’s humiliating whitewash.

Scotland have suffered seven defeats on the spin, their worst run since 1998, and also failed to qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

As
he announced his review, Robinson said: “I’ll look at everything. This performance reflects on me, yes. I’ll meet with SRU chief executive Mark
Dodson.

“I have a contract until 2015 but on this performance
there needs to be consequences. I’ll be at the forefront of those talks. It was an unacceptable performance and I’m very angry. I’d also like to
apologise to the fans.”

Scotland,
ranked 10th in the world before the game, will now end 2012 without a home win in the calendar year, the first time that has happened in 14 years.

Tonga’s victory was their first Test win in Europe and coach Mana Otai innocently rubbed salt in the wounds.

He said: “We’re very proud of the result. The performance could have been better and the boys know that.”

The Tongans, ranked 12th in the world, lost three men to yellow cards yet still won the try count 2-0 and held on for an historic victory.

Tonga kicked an early penalty and although Scotland dominated first-half possession they had only two Greig Laidlaw penalties to show for it.

Laidlaw
kicked Scotland further in front early in the second half but Viliami Ma’afu then offloaded for Tukulua Lokotui to go over, making amends for his earlier yellow card.

Laidlaw inched Scotland 12-10 in front and kicked them further ahead five minutes later. But Fetu’u Vainikolo grabbed the visitors’ second try and, despite the conversion being missed, they led 18-15.

Tongan skipper Nili Latu was sin-binned but his side still extended their lead with a Fangatapu Apikotoa penalty before sub Sione Timani was also yellow-carded.

Scots skipper Kelly Brown said: “The coaches are not out on the pitch. It’s up to us players to look at ourselves for answers.”